May Britt, the Swedish actress who starred in Hollywood films during the 1950s and 1960s and became known for her groundbreaking marriage to entertainer Sammy Davis Jr., died at age 91.
Britt died of natural causes on December 11, 2025, at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center, her son Mark Davis confirmed.
Born Majbritt Wilkens on March 22, 1934, in Lidingö, Sweden, Britt was discovered at age 18 by Italian producer Carlo Ponti. She signed with 20th Century Fox in 1957 and quickly established herself in Hollywood with roles in several notable films.
Her film credits included The Hunters in 1958, where she starred alongside Robert Mitchum, and The Young Lions the same year opposite Marlon Brando. She gained wider recognition for her starring role in The Blue Angel in 1959, followed by Murder Inc. in 1960.
Britt met Davis at the Mocambo nightclub after one of his performances. Their engagement was announced in June 1960, sparking significant controversy in an America where interracial marriage was illegal in 31 states.
Fox declined to renew her contract after the engagement announcement became public. The couple also received death threats and faced intense scrutiny over their relationship.
Prior to meeting Davis, Britt had married Edwin Gregson in February 1958, but that marriage ended in divorce.
Britt converted to Judaism before her wedding to Davis. The couple married on November 13, 1960, at his Los Angeles home. Frank Sinatra, Davis’s close friend and fellow Rat Pack member, served as best man at the ceremony.
The wedding was postponed until after the election at the request of officials concerned about the political implications. Despite Davis’ support for John F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign, the couple was disinvited from the JFK inauguration following their marriage.
The couple welcomed their daughter Tracey in July 1961. They also adopted two sons, Mark and Jeff.
The marriage ended in divorce in December 1968, with reports linking Davis to singer and dancer Lola Falana. However, their daughter later told the Los Angeles Times that her parents never fell out of love.
“I just couldn’t be what she wanted me to be. A family man. My performance schedule was rigorous,” Davis explained when Tracey asked about the divorce.
Britt married her third husband, Lennart Ringquist, in 1993. Ringquist died in 2017.
Tragedy struck the family when Tracey died in 2020 at age 59.
The marriage between Britt and Davis represented a pivotal moment in American cultural history. At the time of their 1960 wedding, anti-miscegenation laws remained in effect across much of the country, making their union not only controversial but illegal in many jurisdictions.
The couple’s relationship forced them to employ 24-hour armed guards for protection against threats. The backlash extended beyond personal safety concerns to professional consequences, with Britt’s Hollywood career effectively ending after her engagement announcement.
Davis’ political connections proved insufficient to shield the couple from discrimination. “My talent was colorless, but my skin wasn’t,” Davis once said, reflecting on the challenges they faced.
Britt’s early career showed considerable promise before her marriage altered its trajectory. Her discovery by Ponti, one of Italy’s most influential film producers, launched her into European cinema before her transition to Hollywood. The Swedish actress brought both talent and striking screen presence to her roles in major studio productions.
Her performances in war dramas and noir films during the late 1950s and early 1960s demonstrated her range as an actress. The Blue Angel, in particular, positioned her as a rising star capable of taking on iconic roles previously associated with legendary performers.
Following her divorce from Davis, Britt made periodic appearances on television but largely stepped away from the entertainment industry spotlight.
Her decision to marry Davis despite the professional and personal costs reflected the changing social dynamics of 1960s America. The couple’s willingness to face public hostility and legal barriers helped pave the way for broader acceptance of interracial relationships.
Britt is survived by her two sons and her sister, Mary, along with several grandchildren.
